Skip to main content


Unlike a normal research paper, the bibliography section in a thesis/dissertation proposal is not only a list of what you have read, but also a list of what you plan to read. Be realistic about your timeline. You probably can’t read 200 books in six months. Most bibliographies include 20 to 30 sources, but of course, you should check your institutional requirements to make sure you have a sufficient number. Your bibliography isn’t something you should casually throw together. A thesis/dissertation is a huge project, and tracking and citing sources is something that you should do from the beginning. Using a good citation manager starting with your thesis/dissertation proposal will help you immensely in the later stages of your writing. It is also a great idea to find out which citation style you should use. You can use citation generators and other tools when you work on thesis editing later to make sure that your paper follows the right citation format. However, this process will be much quicker if you track your citation style and references from the first stage. Check out our site for more tips on writing a great thesis/dissertation and information on thesis/dissertation editing and proofreading services.